Shakin' Stevens new single 'Now Listen'

According to the official website this new album represents a "distinct progression in Steven's career", with "strong country rock and blues influences". The title track and first single was co-written by Stevens, Tim Woodcock (poor kid) and Cliff Masterson. I get the feeling that instead of working on the song together, each one wrote their separate part. The chorus sounds very typically Shakin Stevens, while the verse was surely written by one of the other co-writers. Each time I hear the chorus I feel like I've heard it before. It sounds like an old Shaky tune. Here's the video so you can judge for yourselves.

Shakin Stevens: Get them young and they're yours for life.

The new album by Shakin Stevens finally gets a release.

Shakin' Stevens was my first ever concert, in June 1981. I went along with my two aunts and my older brother, who was into the Boomtown Rats, Sex Pistols, Clash etc., so he wasn't very impressed. Anway, I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn't wait to buy his album, 'Shaky', which I still regard as a classic pop record and listen to regularly.

I bought all his singles, despite the ridicule of my classmates until about 1985 when I was well over my obsession and lost interest as Shaky moved into his wooly jumper period. A few years later when I started earning I bought up his remaining records in order to complete my collection, and I still keep an eye on an unofficial, but very informative, fan web site called Forevershakin. They organise a couple of Shaky Partys every year and put the (hilarious) photos up on the website. They all look like a bunch of late 30 year olds (more like going on 40) that are stuck firmly back in the eighties, dancing their bendy leg dances at a school disco. But I can't help thinking that I would have a great laugh if I went along.

Shaky in 2007 resting his bendy knees.

His official website is really crap, poorly designed and very seldom updated. In recent years, in the interviews I've read, I can't help getting the feeling that the man, Shakin Stevens, feels slightly embarrassed about some aspects of his past, particularly targeting the Saturday morning kids TV market. Nowadays he promotes his music as country rockin' blues and says that he has moved on. Fair enough but most of his fans still want the denims, black shirt and white shoes Shaky that they love.

So here it is at last, the album ‘Now Listen’ just released in Denmark and already number 8 in the album charts there. I wonder what the title means? Is he trying to tell us something? Shaky was never known for the depth of his lyrics (Wo Wo Julie, If you love me truly, do you want me Julie, to be, to be, to be, your very own) or album titles (Shaky, The Bop Won’t Stop, Lipstick Powder and Paint).

I bought the album today from HMV online. Old habits die hard. I've only heard the one song, the title track, and its not much to write home about but the thing is that there is no way I couldn't buy this record. I was hooked as an 11 year old and at 37 I'm still going to by whatever new material he releases. In marketing terms we'd probably be talking about 'customer loyalty'. I wonder how many of the albums sold in Denmark are thanks to ol' farts like me, and how many are from music lovers who heard this new album and loved the music.

Anyway, I’ll post a review of the album as soon as it arrives and I’ve had time to hear it. Can’t wait!!

My Music Charts - January 1982 to May 1984

From January 1982, aged 12, I started keeping my own personal (trainspotter) music charts, until May 1984. I eventually filled three hard-back note books, stapled them together and covers them with a Culture Club poster (probably from Smash Hits or No.1 magazine).

I thought of putting this on the blog when I read on Word Magazine website abour Jem would kept a record diary of records he bought and concerts he attended from 1980-84.

Here's my top twenty (above) for June 10th 1983. Wham number 1 with Bad Boys, Kajagoogoo at 2 with 'Hang on Now' and the Police at 3 with Every Breath You Take. Its funny to think that both the Police and George Michael are back on live circuit after so many years.

I was (and still am) a major fan of pop music. I was heavily into Shakin Stevens at the time (he's due a new album since last September but no one knows what the delay is and it keeps getting put back...oh but you don't care about that, do you?).

Anyway, this was such a great period for quality pop music that I eventually kept a Top 40, a Top 5 bubbling under hotshots and a Top 10 video chart. I taped most of the stuff off the radio and religiously compiled the new list every Friday evening after school and then listened to each song in order. On Satuardays I would give my mother a list of 3 or four singles and ask her to buy which ever one she could find in picture sleeve. I rarely bought albums cause I couldn't get the 5 or 6 quid price together at once.

Sgt. Peppers 40th Anniversary

So did you see the 40th anniversary tribute to Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band on the BBC the other night? The groups who took part include:

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Bryan Adams
With A Little Help From My Friends - Razorlight
Fixing a Hole - The Fray
She's Leaving Home - The Magic Numbers
Getting Better - Kaiser Chiefs

All of them were given the chance/challenge to cover the original songs, using the orginal 4-track technology with the original sound engineer Geoff Emerick . It was avery interesting program, especially to see how some of the groups struggled. For the Kaiser Chiefs it seemd like a very humbling experience, although the finished version of Getting Better came together in the end.

Surprisingly enough my pics of the best are by artisits that I don't normally like and whose music I have never bought, Bryan Adams and The Fray. The drummer from Razorlight did a good job. I was actually looking forward to seeing the singer Johnny Borrell being interviewed as the music press make him out to be a major ego. I was hoing to see for myself how he is but the group decided that seeing as Ringo Starr sang the original 'With A Little Help From My Friends' then the Razorlight drummer should do the same.

The only version that I didn't like was Magic Numbers attempt at 'She's Leaving Home'. It sounded horrible, very nazzel. Their voices just didn't suit it. By the way, one of the guys was missing. Are they down to 3? Or he just didn't have a good day?

On My Wall This Month

Well, here's what I'm listening to at the moment. I haven't changed much since I first started buyng records aged 11. Instead of covering my walls with posters, these days I hang the album covers of the music I'm listening to. Its bloody great being able to buy vinyl again of most of the albums I'm looking for. There was a 10 year period from about 91 to 2001 when you just couldn't buy vinyl but over the last few years there's been a major vinyl revival. I used to mostly buy second stuff from the 70's and 80's but nowadays most of the releases I look for I can get on plastic. And if not then I usually end up downloading the album instead of buying it on CD.

On my wall this month:

Joan As Policewoman - Real Life
Joanna Newsom & The YS Street Band E.P
Single - Pío Pío
Artic Monkeys - Favorite Worst Nightmare
Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures
Katerine - Robots Aprés Tout
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Mark Ronson - Version
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

Amy Winehouse 'Valerie' Live

Amy Winehouses Back to Black finally gets its vinyl release this week. I've been listening to it on mp3 for ages and was about to fork out the money for the CD until I saw it advertised on the UK HMV site.

But the best winehouse track I've heard isn't even on this album. Its her version of Valerie by the Zutons on the Mark Ronson 'Versions' album. When I originally heard the Zutons track it did nothing for me. Yet the Winehouse version is the standout track on 'Versions'.

Valerie - Amy Winehouse

Paul McCartney, Bjork and Editors on Jools Holland!

Look at the line-up forthe last show in the present series of Jools Holland next Friday!